South Pasadena Fire Department

A retired Los Angeles firefighter charged with beating his wife, stalking her and torching her car has been captured in Nevada after South Pasadena investigators pursued him for about 2 1/2 years. It was retirement money that David Walter Pierson earned fighting fires for 27 years that led to his capture Sept. 18 in Laughlin, Nev., said South Pasadena Police Sgt. Mark Miller. "They always say follow the money," Miller said.

A retired Los Angeles firefighter charged with beating his wife, stalking her and torching her car has been captured in Nevada after South Pasadena investigators pursued him for about 2 1/2 years. It was retirement money that David Walter Pierson earned fighting fires for 27 years that led to his capture Sept. 18 in Laughlin, Nev., said South Pasadena Police Sgt. Mark Miller. "They always say follow the money," Miller said.

Starting this week, firefighters in South Pasadena and Los Angeles will automatically respond to blazes and medical emergencies in areas of each other's towns adjacent to their own cities. The two neighboring cities already have a mutual-aid agreement to come when summoned. Under the new agreement, firefighters will respond automatically, reducing response times by 10 to 15 minutes.

Starting this week, firefighters in South Pasadena and Los Angeles will automatically respond to blazes and medical emergencies in areas of each other's towns adjacent to their own cities. The two neighboring cities already have a mutual-aid agreement to come when summoned. Under the new agreement, firefighters will respond automatically, reducing response times by 10 to 15 minutes.

City Hall will close Fridays and city employees will shift to a four-day work week to help the city comply with strict regulations passed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The City Council approved a four-month trial period for the plan, designed to reduce driving time. City Manager John Bernardi said the plan should begin sometime in the next 30 days. New hours at City Hall will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

A fire burned the second story of a South Pasadena home Thursday, causing more than $300,000 in damage, authorities said. The fire ignited in the attic of the nearly 6,000-square-foot home on Oliver Street shortly before 7 a.m, said South Pasadena Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Clark. Smoke billowed into the morning sky in the tree-lined neighborhood. South Pasadena firefighters were joined by crews from Los Angeles, Pasadena, Alhambra and Monterey Park. The fire was doused by 9 a.m.

A retired Los Angeles firefighter captured after 2 1/2 years on the run from charges that he stalked his ex-wife, beat her and set fire to her South Pasadena carport pleaded no contest Tuesday to arson and will be sentenced to two years in prison. David Walter Pierson, 67, captured in Laughlin, Nev., last September by South Pasadena police, entered the plea in Pasadena Superior Court.

Arsonists set three fires within an hour in the Glendale area Sunday night, causing more than $135,000 damage, authorities said. Firefighters responded to an alarm about 9:50 p.m. at the Pacific States Box & Basket Co. on South Los Angeles Street at Magnolia Avenue in Glendale, where fires were set in eight places, destroying $50,000 worth of cardboard boxes and plastic strawberry containers, John Orr, Glendale Fire Department investigator, said.

A South Pasadena firefighter who left a catering business 10 years ago to seek a more exciting career was hailed as a hero last week after he pulled an injured motorist from a car moments before a freight train slammed into it. When Philip Guiral, a paramedic until he was promoted to captain just two weeks ago, and five other firefighters responded to a traffic accident late Wednesday afternoon, they found two damaged cars on the railroad tracks at Fremont Avenue and Grevelia Street.

It appears the historic blade sign hanging in front of the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena will survive a safety scare that arose this month, but preservationists and city officials are worried about more than just the sign. They are concerned their efforts to revitalize the moribund 87-year-old theater may crumble like the exterior of the building, which is held together in places by wire mesh. Last week, representatives of leaseholder Landmark Theatres said they have decided to repair the sign and are in the process of hiring a contractor.

As she has twice before, the principal of South Pasadena's Marengo Elementary School spent Friday sitting on the school roof because her students devoted at least 20 minutes a night to reading at home. "It's a lot of fun to come sit on the roof," said Marsha Aguirre, 39, as she relaxed with beach chair and cooler, surveying the playground below while nearly 600 students cavorted in the PTA-sponsored Sports Day. "The point is that the kids read."

The following excerpt is adapted from the book "FIRE LOVER: A True Story," by Joseph Wambaugh. Copyright 2002 by Joseph Wambaugh. To be published April 30 by William Morrow and Co., an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission. PROLOGUE It wasn't until this past January that, with one final DNA test, Los Angeles finally closed the book on a unique criminal investigation and prosecution. This massive inquiry involved John Orr, whom a U.S.